Safety-alarm for elevator or other belts



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J.B.SOULE.

SAFETY ALARM FOR ELEVATOR OR OTHER BELTS. No. 433,549. Patented Aug. 5,1890.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, J. B. .SOULE. SAFETY ALARM FOR ELEVATOR OR OTHER BELTS. No. 433,549.Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

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SAFETY ALARM POE ELEVATOR OR OTHER BELTS.

Patented Aug. 5, 1890..

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J. B. SOULE.

SAFETY ALARM EOE ELEVATOR OR OTHER BELTS. No. 433,549. Patented Aug. 5,1890.

THE NORRIS FETEnE c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES B. SOULE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO ROLLIN R.SMITH AND GUSSIE B. SMITH, BOTH OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

SAFETY-ALARM FO R ELEVATQ R OR QTH ER BELTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,549, dated August5, 1890.

Application filed December 17,1889- Serial No. 334,039. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES B. SOULE, of Minneapolis, in the county ofHennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Safety-Alarms for Elevator or other Belts; and I dohereby de 'clare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the let ters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This invention relates to a novel safety device in the nature of anindicator or signaling apparatus for the purpose of indicating anaccidental stoppage of elevator-belts, or belts used for transmitting,power.

The prompt indication of an accidental stoppage of a belt is highlyimportant, especially in the case of elevator-belts, for the reason thatthe continued rotation of the drivingpulley in contact with the beltwhen the latter is held immovable is likely to create so much frictionas to produce combustion, it being a fact well known to those familiarwith grain -elevators, for example, that fires in such structures veryoften occur from this cause. It often happens that such an elevator-beltbecomes choked by accumulation of grain therein, in which case the beltis likely to be stopped, when fire is soon produced by the friction ofthe drivingpnlley against the belt. By the use of an indicating devicefor calling attention of the operator to the stoppage of the belt at theinstant the same occurs the machinery may be stopped, or otherprecaution taken, so as to avoid the disastrous results likely to arisefrom the stoppage of the belt. The same results are likely to ensue fromthe stoppage of belts other than those employed in elevators, and theuse of a signaling device or indicator showing instantly the stoppage ofany belt which rests in contact with a live or driving pulley maybefully as advantageous as the use of a similar apparatus in connectionwith an elevator-belt. The invention consists, in its main or essentialfeatures, of an indicator or signaling device which is actuated by meansindependent of the parts driven by the belt or the belt itself,

and controlled by the movement of the belt and which is adapted to show,by giving an audible alarm or otherwise, when the belt ceases to move.In an apparatus embodying the main features of my invention thesignaling device may be made in any one of a 5 5 great variety ofdifferent forn1sas, for instance, it may consist of a stea1n-whistle orbell, which Wi ll be sounded to give an audible alarm, or itmay be inthe nature of an indicator, showing to the eye the stoppage of the belt.In cases where anumber of belts are under the control of one person thesignaling device may have the form of an annunciator provided with acall-bell and arranged to indicate which of the several belts havestopped. The signaling device, furthermore, may be located adjacent tothe belt for the observation of a person working near the same, or itmay be located at a distant point in the same building or elsewhere.Furthermore, the alarm may betransmitted from thebelt to the signalingdevice ,eitherby mechanical means or by the use of an electric circuit.The spe= cific mechanism, through the medium of which the control of theindicating device by the movement of the belt is effected, may beconstructed in a variety of forms. One device for the purpose, which Ihave employed in practice, and which for some reasons I prefer to anyother herein suggested, consists of a revolving weight or weightsarranged like those of the common steam-engine governor and driven bythe belt, and connected with the signaling device in such manner as tohold said signaling device out of operation or inactive during the timethat said weight is thrown or held outward by centrifugal action. Otherdevices may, however, be employed with the same general effectas, forinstance, a blast of air created by a fan driven 9c from the moving beltmay be employed tohold the signaling mechanism out of action,

or a shoe or block in frictional engagement with a pulley driven by thebelt may be employed for the same purpose.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointedout in the appended claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is aface View of one too desirable form thereof. Fig, 2 is a sectional viewtaken upon line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan section of the sametaken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the lines 3 3of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is aview in front elevation of another form ofapparatus embodying my invention. Figs. 5 and 6 are side and frontelevations of an elevator casin g and belt provided with signalingapparatus embodying another form of my invention. Figs. 7 and 8 arediagrams illustrating other ways of carrying out the main features ofthe invention.

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3, A indicates one of the parts or legsof an elevatorcasing, and B a belt running therein and provided with aseries of buckets B B. O is a smooth-faced wheel or pulley insertedthrough the hole or opening a in the casing A, and adapted to bearagainst the rear surface of the belt 13. Said pulley is attached to ashaft 0, which is mounted upon the elevator-casing or an adjacentstationary support in such manner that the said pulley O is movablysustained and is adapted to be held yieldingly against the belt.

The devices shown forsustainin g said shaft, as above described, areconstructed as follows:

D is a metal frame or casting secured to the elevator-casing A adjacentto the hole a, and provided with ontwardly-projectin g parallel flangescl (1, between which is pivoted a swinging frame D said frame beingpivotally connected with the said casting at its outer end, or thatremote from the pulley C, by means of pivots cl d. The shaft 0 hasbearings d d at opposite ends of said frame D which frame is adapted toswing in and out between the flanges d d at its end nearest the pulley,thereby allowing the said pulley to be moved bodily toward and from thebelt B.

D is a spring acting against the frame D and tending to thrust or holdthe free end of said frame inwardly toward the elevator-casing, and tothereby press or hold the pulley C yieldingly against the elevator-belt.The said spring is shown as of leaf form, and secured at one end to thecasing A, with its free end pressing against the frame D but a springfor the same purpose may be otherwise constructed or applied, as foundconvenient or desirable in practice. By the construction described thepulley is held with its periphery in contact with the belt, wherebycontinuous rotary motion is given to the pulley and its shaft during thetime the belt is running, the pulley being held yieldingly'or byspring-pressure against the belt, in order to insure its contact withthe same at all times. To the outerend of said shaft 0 are fixed tworigid arms a c, in the outer ends of which are pivoted two bell-cranklevers E E,

j the outer and longer arms of which are pro- Vided with weights 6 e.The inner or shorter arms of said bell-crank levers are connected bymeans of links 6 c with a sliding sleeve or collar 6 mounted upon theshaft 0 and turning with the same. Said collar is provided with anannular groove 6 which is engaged by the forked end of a bell-cranklever F, which is pivotally supported upon the arm D of the casting D,hereinbefore described.

The upright or vertical arm of the bell crank lever F is engaged withthe sleeve 6 and the horizontal arm thereof is provided with a weight F,which tends tomove the bell-crank lever in a direction to thrust thesleeves e outwardly upon the shaft, and to thereby throw the weights e eof the bellcrank levers inwardly or toward said shaft. The weight F isadjustable upon the arm of the bell-crank lever, and may be shifted toact with more or less leverage in accordance with the resistance to beovercome by the weight, or other considerations arising in practice. Thesaid bell-crank lever F is connected by means of a wire f, or otherwise,with the indicator or signaling device of the apparatus. When the beltis running and the shaft 0 revolving, the weights 6 e are thrownoutwardly by centrifugal force, thereby thrusting the sleeve 6 inwardlyupon the shaft and moving the bell-crank lever F against the action ofthe weight thereon. As soon as the belt stops and the centrifugal actionof the weights 6 e ceases, however, the weight F will depress thehorizontal arm of the bellcrank lever F, and thereby throw the sleeve 6outwardly and bring the said weights 0 6 toward the shaft. The signalingdevice employed in connection with a construction of this character isso arranged that it will remain inactive whenever the belt is runningand the weight F is lifted; or it may be arranged to display at suchtime a signal indicating that the parts are operating properly. Suchsignaling device is so arranged, however, that as soon as the belt stopsthe weight F will act to move or permit the movement of the indicator oralarm device.

As shown in said Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3, the signaling device is of thecharacter of an alarm mechanism embracing a bell or gong, and saidsignaling device is actuated by a revolving shaft forming part of themechanism which actuates the elevator-belt, so that the signaling devicecan come into operation only at times when the belt is moving. In otherwords, the signaling device is driven by one of the moving parts of theelevator mechanism, so that the customary stoppage of the elevator-beltat night, or when all of the other machinery in the elevator is stopped,will produce no alarm.

As shown in said Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3, G is a revolving shaft formingpart of the actuating mechanism by which the elevator-belt is operated.Attached to said shaft are two radial arms G G, having on their outerends lugs or strikers g g, extending parallel with the shaft, and havingstraight transverse advance edges and beveled or inclined rear edges, asindicated at g g. II is an oscillating shaft arranged parallel with theshaft G and mounted in suitable stationary bearings 7b 7b. Attached tosaid shaft is a short rigid arm H, to which is pivoted a second arm Hadapted to swing on a pivot h, arranged at right angles with the shaftH, so that said arm H is adapted to swing in a plane parallel with theaxis of the shaft 11. The said arm I1 is so arranged that when swungupon its pivot 7L its outer or free end may be brought into the path ofthe strikers g g, or swung clear of the same. A spring H secured to theshaft II and to an adjacent stationary part, serves to throw said shaftin a direction opposite to that in which it will be turned or moved bythe contact with the arm H of the strikers g g. \Vhen the said arm II isencountered by one of the strikers g, said arm is swung around againstthe action of the spring H until the striker passes the arm, when thearm is released and allowed to spring backward under the action of saidspring. The backward movement of the arm H under the action of saidspring H is limited by a suitable stationary stop 71, located inposition to be encountered by the rigid arm H. It follows from thisconstruction that when said arm H is located in position for engagementwith the strikers g g said arm and the shaft H will be given acontinuous oscillatory movement by the contact of the strikers therewithduring the turning of the shaft. A spring I. is applied to the arm 11for the purpose of throwing the said arm into position for engagementwith the strikers g g. Such spring may be arranged in any convenientmanner; but, as herein shown, it consists of a spirally coiled spring I,secured at one end to the said arm H and at its opposite end to astationary piece or part 2 The said arm 11 is held out of the path ofthe revolving strikers g g against the action of the spring I bysuitable connection with the actuating devices which are driven by theelevator-belt, and which are so arranged that said arm II will be heldout of the path of said strikers during the time the elevatorbelt isrunning.

The rear edges of the strikers are inclined or beveled, as shown, sothat in case the shaft- G is turned backwardly, either by accident ordesign, the arm II will be thrust sidewise by the said inclined edges,and the strikers will. pass the arm without injury.

In the devices shown in said Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3 a wircf is attached tothe said arm H and to a bell-crank lever f, to which latter the wire fleading to the bell-crank lever F is also connected. It follows fromthis construction that when the weights c e are thrown outwardly by therotation of the shaft 0 the bell-crank lever F will be moved in adirection to draw the said arm H out of the path of the strikers g g,thereby allowing the said strikers to revolve freely without contactwith the said arm. When the elevator-belt stops, however, the'lever F ismoved by the weight F thereon, so as to thrust or draw inwardly theweights 6 e and allow the arm 11 to move or swing under the action ofthe spring I into the path of the strikers g g,

whereby the shaft II will be given a continu- 'or gong J, which isstruck by a vibrating hammer J, attached directly to the oscillatingshaft H.

The signalingdevice illustrated in said Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3, and abovedescribed,I find to be highly advantageous in practice, because of itscheap and simple construction, and because it may be readily and quicklyapplied to any elevator-belt, and for the further reason that the alarmdevice is simple and positive in its action, and is always in readinessfor operation when the machinery which drives the elevator-belt isrunning, while being incapable of action at times when the drivingmachinery is stopped and it is not needed. By reason of the advantagesobtained by this construction the novel features thereof are hereinclaimed as part of my invention in addition to the main features commonto all of the safety-signaling devices herein illustrated.

I will next describe that embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 4. Insaid Fig. 4, A indicates the elevator leg or casing, B the belt, and B abucket thereon. K is a transverse shaft journaled in bearings 7t, whichare secured to the sides of the leg or casing. Said shaft K carries afriction wheel or pulley K, which bears against the inner side of thebelt B, and is given a rotary motion thereby during the movement of thebelt. On the outer end of the shaft K are located two rigid arms 70 7t,to the outer ends of which are pivoted bell-crank levers L L, the outerand longer arms of which carry weights Z Z. The inner or shorter arms ofsaid bell-crank levers are connected by means of links Z l with asliding collar M, sliding upon the shaft K. L indicates a bell-cranklever, which is pivoted to the casin g A below the shaft K, and thevertical arm of which is provided with a forked end engaging a groove min the collar M. The horizontal arm of said bell-crank lever carries aweight N, preferably adjustable upon the said arm. A cord or wire 0 isattached to the end of the horizontal arm of the bell-crank lever,passes over rollers 0 0, and is connected with the valve-lever p of awhistle P, or with any other suitable signaling or alarm device.

When the belt of the elevator is in operation, it turns the shaft K androller K,

thereby throwing outwardly the weights Z by centrifugal action andthrusting the collar M in the direction of the arrow, and lifting thehorizontal arm of the bellcrank lever L against the actionof the weightN, and hold- ISO ing the alarm inactive, the same being thrown intoposition 7 for operation by means of a spring 19 acting against thelever 19. In case the elevator becomes clogged or the belt stops movingfrom. any accidental cause, the rotation of the shaft K will cease, theweight N will act to draw inwardly the weights Z Z, the weighted arm ofthe bell-crank lever L will descend, and the alarm will be sounded.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is illustrated still another embodiment of the mainfeatures of my invention. In this'instance A A indicate the elevatorlegsor casin g, and A an elevator-boot located'at the lower ends of saidlegs. Bis the elevator-belt, and B B the buckets thereon. I3 is thelower or boot pulley of the elevator. The upper or head pulley, which isdriven by the actuating machinery of the elevator and gives motion tothe belt, is not shown in the drawings, as it constitutes no part of thepresent invention. The elevator-boot A is shown as supported upon thelower ends of vertical adj usting-rods A A in the usual manner. Q Q arevertical tubes mounted to slide endwise upon the adj usti'ng-rods A Asaid tubes being attached to and adapted to support horizontalframe-bars q q. Said frame-bars are desirably secured adj ustably uponthe said tubes by means of set-screws q q. Q Qare boxes or bearingsmounted upon the tubes Q Q below the frame-bars q q and convenientlysecured thereto by set-screws g g In said bearings or boxes Q Q isjournaled a transverse shaft R, provided with friction-wheels R R, whichrest upon or bear against the upper part of the periphery of theboot-pulley B S is avertical shaft mounted in bearings s s on theframe-bars q q, and provided at its lower end with a miter-gear s,intermeshing with a miter-gear 0" upon the shaft R. The upper ends ofthe shafts contain a device similar to a weight-governor and like thatshown in Fig. 1, the same consisting of bell-crank levers S S, pivotedto rigid arms 3 s on the shaft and provided with weights 9 the shortarms of said bell-crank levers being connected by links 8 with a slidingsleeve S upon the said shaft S. The endwise movement caused by thestoppage of the belt and the falling of the centrifugal weights 8 s istransmitted to a suitable alarm device or signaling apparatus. In theparticular construction illustrated in said Fig. 5 a yoke s is engagedwith an annular groove in the sliding collar S and to said yoke isconnected a wire S which passes over suitable guide-rollers and isconnected with the actuating-lever p of a steam-whistle P, whichactuating-lever is held normally in position to hold the alarm inactiveby the centrifugal action of the weights S S and is actuated by means ofa spring 1) to open the valve. It is clear from this construction thatwhen the elevator-belt is in motion the alarm device will be heldinactive, and as soon as the belt is arrested from any cause the alarmmechanism is immediately thrown into action.

general results may, as far as the main fea tures of my invention areconcerned, however, be obtained by the use of devices operating in anentirely different manner, and in the diagrams, Figs. 7 and 8, I haveshown other forms in which the main features of my invention may beembodied in practice.

In Fig. 7, for instance, T is a shaft to which rotary motion is givenfrom the traveling belt in any convenient manner-as, for instance, bymeans of a'friction-pulley (shown in dotted lines at t) placed incontact with the belt. (Indicated by dotted lines at 15'.) The shaft Tis provided with fan-blades 19, which are surrounded by a fan-casing T,provided with an exit-passage T in a familiar manner. T is a flat diskor plate arranged opposite or in contact with the mouth of the passage Tsaid plate being conveniently supported by means of an arm i attached toa rock-shaft T The plate T is held in position in contact with oradjacent to the mouth of the fan-casing by a suitable spring or weightadapted to yield under the action of the air-blast during the rotationof the shaft T, the said plate being connected with a suitable signalingdevice which is held out of action at all times except when the stoppageof the air-blast allows the plate to be drawn or thrown toward thefan-casing. As herein shown, the rock-shaft T is provided with an arm t,to which is connected a spring T which acts to throw the plate T towardthe fan-casing. A wire 25 is attached to said arm, which wire may beconnected with any suitable alarm or signaling device such, forinstance, as the one illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 3, or that shownin Fig. 4. It is entirely obvious that when the elevatorbelt is runningthe air-blast produced by the action of the fans will hold the plate Taway from the mouth of the fan-casing against the action of the spring Tand that as soon as the belt is stopped from any cause said spring Twill be allowed to contract and will act upon the wire t and therebyactuate the alarm device, or, in case the same is self-acting, allow thesame to act.

In Fig. Sis shown a simple form of signaling device embracing anelectric-alarm apparatus. In this instance U is a revolving shaftactuated by the elevator-belt and provided with a pulley U, having asmooth peripheral surface. U is a brake-shoe resting on the surface ofthe pulley U and connected by means of a rod a with a vertical lever UThe shoe U may be held in contact with the pulley by its own weightalone, or by means of a weight a, which may be attached to the rod to,if found necessary. The pivoted lever the contact-points together, so asto complete an electric circuit through the conductors V V and anelectrical alarm device V When the pulley U is out of action, the springU holds the lever U in position to complete the electric circuit in themanner described; but when the said pulley is rapidly turned by themovement of the belt the friction developed by the contact of the pulleywith the shoe U will tend to drag or carry said shoe in the direction ofthe arrow, thereby moving the lever U against the action of the spring Uand holding the contact-points apart. It follows from this constructionthat whenever the belt is running properly the con tact-points will beheld separate and the electric circuit will be broken; but as soon asthe belt stops the spring U will draw backwardly the shoe, so as toclose the electric circuit and give the alarm.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with a traveling belt, anindicator or signaling device, and means actuating the latterindependently of the belt or parts driven thereby, of a wheel or pulleydriven by the belt and controlling the said alarm or signaling device,substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a traveling belt, an indicator or signalingdevice, and means actuating the latterindependently of the belt or partsdriven thereby, of a spring or Weight applied to said alarm or signalingdeviceand tending to throw the same into action, and mechanism actuatedby the belt and acting in opposition to said spring or weight to holdthe indicator or signaling device outof action during the movement ofthe belt, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a traveling belt, an indicator or signalingdevice, and means actuating the latter independently of the belt orparts driven thereby, of a movably-supported revolving weight'or weightsactuated by the belt and controlling said indicator or signaling device,substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a traveling belt, an indicator or signalingdevice, and means actuating the latter independently of the belt orparts driven thereby, of a wheel or pulley driven by the belt, arevolving movablysupported weight driven by the pulley, and anindicatoror signaling device controlled by said weight,substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination, with a traveling belt, an indicator or signalingdevice, and means actuating the latter independently of the belt orparts driven thereby, of a wheel or pulley mounted in movable bearingsand held yieldingly against the belt, and-an indicator or signalingdevice controlled by said pulley, sub stantially as described.

6. The combination, with'a traveling belt and actuating mechanism givingmotioirto the same, of an indicator or signaling device operated by saidactuating mechanism lndependently of the belt or parts driventhereby,said indicator or signaling device beingcontrolled by the belt,substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a traveling belt and actuating mechanism giving1n-ot1on to the same, of an, indicator or signaling device operated bysaid actuating mechanism independently of the belt or parts driventhereby, a spring or weight applied to said alarm or signaling deviceand tending to throw the same into action, and mechanism actuatedby thebelt and acting in opposition to said spr ng or weight to hold theindicator or signaling device out of action during the movement of thebelt, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with a traveling belt, of a shaft driven by the samemotor which actuates the belt, a signaling device provided with anactuating-arm, an arm or striker on the shaft adapted to act upon theactuatlngarm of the signaling device, said actuatingarm being movableinto and out of the path of the striker, a spring tending to hold saidactuating-arm in the path of the striker, and mechanism actuated by thebelt acting to draw said actuating-arm out of the path of the strikeragainst the action of the said spring, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a traveling belt, of a pulley adapted forcontact with the belt, a shaft supporting the pulley, a shaft which isdriven by the same motor which actuates the belt, a signaling deviceprovided with an actuating-arm, an arm or striker on the shaft adaptedto act upon the actuating-arm of the signaling device, saidactuating-arm being movable into and out of the path of the striker, aspring tending to hold said actuating-arm in the path of the striker,and mechanism actuated by the belt acting to draw said actuatingarm intothe path of the striker against the action of the said spring,substantially as described.

10. The combination, with a traveling belt, of a wheel or pulley incontact with the same, a shaft supporting the pulley, apivotally-supported frame affording bearings for the shaft, a springacting against the frame to hold the pulley yieldingly in contact withthe belt, and an indicator or signaling device controlled by saidpulley, substantially as described.

11. The combination, with a traveling belt, of a'wheel or pulley incontact with the same, a shaft upon which said pulley is mounted, apivotally-snpported frame affording bearings for the shaft, a springacting upon the frame ICC) to hold the pulley in Contact with the belt,a my invention I affix my signature in presence centrifugally-actingWeight inovably susof two witnesses.

tained upon the said shaft, and an indicator or signaling devicecontrolled by the inove- M ES SOULE' 5 ments of said Weight,substantially as de- Witnesses:

scribed. O. CLARENCE POOLE,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as HARRY COBB KENNEDY.

